Profile: Groomed as a starter, Bowden has shown up briefly in Boston three consecutive years, used almost exclusively in mop-up duty. Bowden profiles as a back-of-the-rotation type, not particularly thrilling in any part of his game, and it’s not likely he starts in Boston unless disaster strikes. At 25, there’s still time for him to develop, but if he’s featured in 2012, it will likely be as a spot starter at best, and probably just long relief. (Michael Barr)

Profile: Once a top prospect as a starter, Michael Bowden has seemingly found his niche as a reliever at the big league level. Bowden isn’t going to finish games, and his ERA won’t be good enough to justify the small number of holds he’ll rack up. (Zach Sanders)

Profile: When a player gets designated for assignment twice in the same season by a team that goes on to win 66 games, there’s only one thing left to do: go East, young man! Bowden did just that, signing with Japan’s Seibu Lions in December. Bowden’s NPB value has skyrocketed as a result, and he may indeed close games for the Lions, but his days as a MLB fantasy asset (which totaled exactly zero) are now in the rear view mirror. (Jack Weiland)

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